As we look forward to choose a leader that would direct the affairs of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ensure smooth collaboration between the executive arm of Government and the legislative arm of Government, the choice of electing a personality of good character, competence and commitment to democratic values and tenets is paramount to the administration of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) aka Jagaband.
BAT became the 16th president of the federal republic of Nigeria against all odds. He is set to replicate the achievement of the 16th president of United States of America, Abraham Lincoln in Nigeria. Therefore, he is in dire need of a youth-centered senate leader that would strengthen the federal government, reconcile ethnic hatred, prioritize education investment, modernize and diversified Nigeria economy.
Thus, the choice of Senator God’swill Obot Akpabio for senate president is in right direction, a charismatic leader per excellences that have criss-cross and travail both the private and public sector in the course of his career. He started his career with a legal profession, served as a Cabinet Commissioner and as the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, served as distinguish Senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria and served as Cabinet Minister during Mohammed Buhari Administration.
Senator Akpabio legacies as a Governor of Akwa Ibom State are abounding till date with tremendous and gigantic infrastructural development in a state that was seen before his coming as mere pedestrian state to becoming a destination for all.
His love for education was seen during his tenure as Governor Declaring free and Compulsory education for all and sundry from primary to Senior Secondary education with inclusion of payment of external and exit examination fees for all students who were schooling in Akwa Ibom State irrespective of his or her state of origin. He insisted during his tenure that all residence in the state are qualified to be recipient of the free education irrespective of their ethnic origin.
Akpabio’s penchant for quality jobs was the order of the day, as he recruited one of the best construction companies to the state to carry out road and housing infrastructure to the envy of other states. These infrastructural transformations were so glaring to the world, hence during his tenure he was nicknamed Mr. Uncommon Transformer.
His investment in sport development with construction of a 35,000 capacity stadium liken to the Alliianz Arena of Munich, the home base of the German football club side Bayern Munich drew global attention and attracted the Confederation of African football to host the final of the CAF African Clubs Champions League final in the state.
He was one of the first Governors to sponsor Muslims Residence in the state to Hajji in the holy land considering the state being a Christian Dominated State. This showed his level of religious Tolerance and togetherness that he lives and preach.
The personality of Akpabio’s leadership style was so infectious and enigmatic in nature that he was the best performing governor during his tenure as the chief executive of his state and also a product of envy amongst his peers in the governors’ forum at that time.
He laid a blueprint for long-term development in Akwa-Ibom, Neighboring states had to visit his own state to learn on how to set and implement developmental projects to the betterment of their respective citizenry. It was in the light of his stellar performance, that the good people of Ikot Ekpene North-West Senatorial District Elected him into the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
But just like the proverbial saying that a golden fish cannot hide and can be easily spotted, thus the minority party where he was elected into the senate, voted him as their minority leader. His sternly performance led to is appointment as minister of Niger Delta Ministry by the immediate past president of the federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammad Buhari to help in rebuilding the Niger-Delta.
That did not take his Excellency long in stamping his feet in the shores of his region the Niger Delta, by carrying monumental people oriented development, which included, the re-mobilization of contractors to site towards the completion of the east-west road, supervision and mobilization of resources for the completion and commissioning of the Niger-Delta Development Commission Headquarters (NDDC) in Port-Harcourt thereby saving the commission millions from rent, thus channeling the lease money to other development projects in the Niger-Delta.
It is in the above submission that we urge Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora to engage their elected legislators to elect Senator Godswill Akpabio in becoming the Senate President and the chairman of the National Assembly of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and we won’t regret.
*Ubong Nelson Ikie wrote from Abuja via hterrence261@gmail.com , 07018386729